The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon Burns)
Sir David Nicholson, the NHS chief executive, is publishing “The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2012-13” today, which sets out the priorities for next year.
The NHS operating framework is an annual publication that outlines the business and planning arrangements for the NHS. It describes the national priorities, system levers and enablers needed for NHS organisations to maintain and improve the quality of services provided, while delivering transformational change and maintaining financial stability.
There are four key themes in the document for this year:
the NHS has put quality of care for older people at the head of its priority list for 2012-13. They will get better care and be treated with more dignity. And the friends and relatives who care for them at home will get more support;
the need to maintain the NHS’s continued strong performance on finance and service quality, including ensuring that the NHS constitution right to treatment within 18 weeks is met;
the need to create the foundations for sustainable delivery against the quality, innovation, prevention and productivity (QIPP) challenge; and
the need to complete the transition to the new delivery system set out in “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS”.
The NHS operating framework sets out the practical steps that need to be taken to carry the NHS through a strong and stable transition over the next year, maintaining high quality standards and financial grip, as we move towards the new modernised system envisaged in “Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS” (Cm 7881).
A copy of “The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2012-13” has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.